Etymology from Topography
The name originates from the presence of a small stream (sawa) to the west of dwellings or owned land at the time. Many people bearing this surname reside in Nagano Prefecture. It is also commonly found in Shiga Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo, and other areas.
While there is a theory suggesting it derives from a place name, it is more likely that the surname and place name both originated from the topography.
Approximately 40,000 Japanese people bear this surname.
Explanation of this calligraphy
The top row is in hiragana, the middle row in kanji, and the bottom row in katakana, all written horizontally.
